her to stay. Before departing from Critchfield Manor, Rose left an invitation for Kate to call on her freely.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thomas assured Nicholas that Ms. Dornacher’s screams had been caused by fright and not harm. His first instinct had been to rush to her side, to aide her, but fear had gripped him. Thomas noticed his brief hesitation and was quick to volunteer himself to the task. So quick was he, that he had left before Nicholas could object. Now that he knew the cause for Ms. Dornacher’s distress, Nicholas was glad he had chosen to stay in his room and avoided embarrassing himself or Ms. Dornacher more than she had already been.
He slowly made his way outside to the Spring Garden. Nicholas loved this garden. Although his home was only a few years old, the garden flourished as if it had always been there. The blooming hyacinths, tulips and daffodils brightened his mood. Ms. Rusch poured him a cup of coffee and left him to his thoughts. As he began to drink, he absent mindedly looked up towards the house, towards the room that Ms. Dornacher was staying in. He did not expect to see her in the window, much less looking down at him. He was just about to nod in recognition but she quickly moved away from the window.
I wonder how long she has been standing there.
He checked his pocket watch. It was eight o’clock, time for his meeting with Edward Dickson and an associate, Arthur Wooldridge. Edward and his wife Rose had been good friends to Nicholas. Surely they would help him now. He smiled and offered friendly greetings, as the other gentlemen chose seats around the table.
“Gentlemen, thank you for meeting me on such short notice…”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nicholas had hoped that Edward and Rose would take Ms. Dornacher in. But he also understood Edward’s reasons for declining. Edward had two small children at home, no matter how proper Ms. Dornacher may appear they did not have enough information to truly judge her character.
Mr. Wooldridge agreed to find out what he could through his connections. As a prominent businessman, he had friends or acquaintances within several major companies and establishments. Given the scope and reach of these contacts, they should soon discover the truth behind Ms. Dornacher’s sudden appearance. He hated to admit to the possibility of never knowing, of never finding out, or of Ms. Dornacher never remembering.
Before Ms. Dornacher arrived, Nicholas felt like he had finally reached a point of normalcy once again. He had finally felt like he was able to move on with his life. The loss of his dear wife Emily had devastated him. When she died, he felt as though someone had ripped his heart right out of his chest, torn it to shreds, then placed the broken, tattered pieces back inside. To lose her so suddenly as well as the unborn child she carried was more than he could bear. Without the support of his family and friends, he can’t imagine how he would have gotten through it.
Emily’s illness had seemed harmless at first. It began with some noticeable swelling in her ankles, and hands, then came the headaches. One morning, she had awoken early with an unbearable headache. Concerned, Nicholas sent Mr. Baxter to the doctor’s home with instructions to come at once. Dr. Preston Granville being a sensible man, always kept a set of clothing laid out in case of an emergency. He had dressed and arrived at Critchfield Manor within fifteen minutes time. As he began his examination of Emily, he noticed the color of her skin was different. Her skin was not its usual fair tone, but reddened as if she had spent too long of a time in the sun. He felt her pulse and listened to her heart. Something about her condition did not sit well with him.
“When was the last time you felt the baby move?”
“I, I do not recall. This headache has been my whole focus since I awoke.”
“Hmm. Nicholas, would you please join
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thomas assured Nicholas that Ms. Dornacher’s screams had been caused by fright and not harm. His first instinct had been to rush to her side, to aide her, but fear had gripped him. Thomas noticed his brief hesitation and was quick to volunteer himself to the task. So quick was he, that he had left before Nicholas could object. Now that he knew the cause for Ms. Dornacher’s distress, Nicholas was glad he had chosen to stay in his room and avoided embarrassing himself or Ms. Dornacher more than she had already been.
He slowly made his way outside to the Spring Garden. Nicholas loved this garden. Although his home was only a few years old, the garden flourished as if it had always been there. The blooming hyacinths, tulips and daffodils brightened his mood. Ms. Rusch poured him a cup of coffee and left him to his thoughts. As he began to drink, he absent mindedly looked up towards the house, towards the room that Ms. Dornacher was staying in. He did not expect to see her in the window, much less looking down at him. He was just about to nod in recognition but she quickly moved away from the window.
I wonder how long she has been standing there.
He checked his pocket watch. It was eight o’clock, time for his meeting with Edward Dickson and an associate, Arthur Wooldridge. Edward and his wife Rose had been good friends to Nicholas. Surely they would help him now. He smiled and offered friendly greetings, as the other gentlemen chose seats around the table.
“Gentlemen, thank you for meeting me on such short notice…”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nicholas had hoped that Edward and Rose would take Ms. Dornacher in. But he also understood Edward’s reasons for declining. Edward had two small children at home, no matter how proper Ms. Dornacher may appear they did not have enough information to truly judge her character.
Mr. Wooldridge agreed to find out what he could through his connections. As a prominent businessman, he had friends or acquaintances within several major companies and establishments. Given the scope and reach of these contacts, they should soon discover the truth behind Ms. Dornacher’s sudden appearance. He hated to admit to the possibility of never knowing, of never finding out, or of Ms. Dornacher never remembering.
Before Ms. Dornacher arrived, Nicholas felt like he had finally reached a point of normalcy once again. He had finally felt like he was able to move on with his life. The loss of his dear wife Emily had devastated him. When she died, he felt as though someone had ripped his heart right out of his chest, torn it to shreds, then placed the broken, tattered pieces back inside. To lose her so suddenly as well as the unborn child she carried was more than he could bear. Without the support of his family and friends, he can’t imagine how he would have gotten through it.
Emily’s illness had seemed harmless at first. It began with some noticeable swelling in her ankles, and hands, then came the headaches. One morning, she had awoken early with an unbearable headache. Concerned, Nicholas sent Mr. Baxter to the doctor’s home with instructions to come at once. Dr. Preston Granville being a sensible man, always kept a set of clothing laid out in case of an emergency. He had dressed and arrived at Critchfield Manor within fifteen minutes time. As he began his examination of Emily, he noticed the color of her skin was different. Her skin was not its usual fair tone, but reddened as if she had spent too long of a time in the sun. He felt her pulse and listened to her heart. Something about her condition did not sit well with him.
“When was the last time you felt the baby move?”
“I, I do not recall. This headache has been my whole focus since I awoke.”
“Hmm. Nicholas, would you please join
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